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Vietnam eagerly applies one door customs mechanism

Deputy General Director of the Foreign Trade Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade Tran Thanh Hai spoke with the Vietnam Economic News about Vietnam’s participation in the ASEAN one door mechanism which was agreed by ASEAN finance ministers in 2006.

Could you tell us more about the ASEAN one door mechanism and the national one door customs mechanism?

To meet requirements of trade facilitation, ASEAN leaders signed a document on the establishment of the ASEAN one door mechanism. This mechanism will apply achievements of information technology to reform administrative procedures related to export-import activities, firstly among the ASEAN countries.

To implement the mechanism, participating countries must have their own system that is the national one door customs mechanism. All export-import documents and papers of businesses will be posted on this system. Management agencies related to export-import activities such as the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Finance also can exchange information through the system.

Vietnam established a steering committee for the ASEAN one door mechanism headed by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh in 2011. In addition, Vietnam is accelerating the building of the national one door customs mechanism, contributing to actively participating in the ASEAN one door mechanism.

What benefits will management agencies and businesses achieve?

Businesses can save costs and time when participating in the national one door customs mechanism thanks to its convenience. In addition, export-import procedures and records will become clear and simple.

In terms of state management agencies, the two mechanisms can help modernise the working style and reduce pressure.

When the national one door customs mechanism is completed, it will connect to the ASEAN one door mechanism and businesses will enjoy more benefits.

Could you tell us more about specific schedule?

To build the national one door customs mechanism, Vietnam set out a specific strategy. In the 2011-2013 period, the Ministry of Finance’s General Department of Vietnam Customs, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Transport participated in the building such as preparing infrastructure, machinery and equipment and software. In addition, the three ministries issued a joint circular.

In the 2014-2015 period, the connection between departments and agencies in the three ministries is needed. The General Department of Vietnam Customs is implementing e-customs, significantly contributing to the building of the national one door customs mechanism. The Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Transport have their own system but not connected to the General Department of Vietnam Customs. Therefore, the most important thing in the second period is to connect systems together.

Together with the three ministries, in the second period, the country will implement connections with other ministries such as the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).

In the third period, all ministries and departments will participate in the building of the national one door customs mechanism.

What will the Ministry of Industry and Trade support businesses to participate in the national one door customs mechanism?

To participate in the national one door customs mechanism and ASEAN one door mechanism, the most important thing is to change the perception of businesses. Therefore, the Ministry of Industry and Trade is implementing specific solutions to raise business awareness by organising workshops and conferences in Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Ninh Binh. In the coming time, the country needs more suggestions of businesses.